Primum Non Nocere
By William Bailey (01/17/03)
As Latin scholars (and I'm not one) will recognize, "primum non nocere" is a pretty good admonition to all of us and is a canon of the medical profession . . . "first, do no harm". I submit that it's about time for it to become a "canon" for politicians and bureaucrats everywhere.
To those at the Federal level, "do no harm":
*** to the Constitution . . . honor the oath you took. Carry out the vision of the Founding Fathers. Let the Federal government function and operate as intended and expressed in the most powerful document ever conceived by man for those seeking liberty and freedom.
*** to your constituents . . . listen and heed what those who put you where you are have to say. Remember, your state and this nation do not belong to you. Ownership is, Constitutionally, vested in "We the People" . . . and that transcends and goes beyond just you who are elected.
*** to yourself . . . since you submitted yourself to the public and were chosen by a constituency somewhere to represent them, keep in the forefront of your mind that your mission is just that . . . to represent them, not to carry out some hidden agenda, or to build a blatant and arrogant sphere of power.
There is another expression from Latin that has, over time, proven to be so; "Vincit omnia veritas" . . . "the truth conquers all". However, the interesting question here is (and I was asked just this morning by one responding to a previous column), "how do we get the truth out" ? Well, it's not an easy task. Particularly in light of the obstacles placed in the way by those who prefer that the truth not be know . . . or at least not the full and complete truth. And, by those who have the responsibility for disseminating the truth, not a constant barrage of editorial opinion written by news reporters. This leads me to the next phrase from the Latin that really does have meaning. "Qui tacet consentit" . . . "silence implies consent".
For too long now, years and decades, too large a segment of "We the People" have been satisfied to accept whatever the politicians and bureaucrats have tried to "spoon-feed" us. We have not exercised our voices about a whole lot of issues.
Let me cite a couple of examples for you . . . I clearly remember a former U.S. Senator (now deceased) who was once asked, "Senator, how do you plan to vote on a certain issue ?" To which the Senator replied, "Well, I plan to vote for it". The reported continued, "How can you do that when your constituents are clearly opposed to it ?" The Senator's response, "Well . . . they don't really know what they want. That's why they elect us and send us down here". Another from more contemporary times . . . on the local (city) governmental level. (And as with the Senator, the individual will remain nameless. If necessary, I can provide the documentation for both of these illustrations). From the "official" city "bio" . . . direct quote, "My mission as a Council member is not to please everyone; rather to do what I believe is the best long-term interest of this community".
Whether at the Federal, state, county and/or city level . . . when you hear elected officials (and bureaucrats) blatantly and openly stating that they will do what THEY deem to be in the best interest . . . you better watch out. Your voice needs to be heard.
There was a time in this country when the voice of "We the People" was a potent and dynamic force for preserving and protecting the freedoms and liberties for which so many have sacrificed so much. Unfortunately, the stamina and the consistent expression of that voice has gradually grown dimmer over the years.
If we really want to have a government and a society that is representative of "We the People" . . . and one that truly recognizes that government comes from the consent of the governed (not what some elected official thinks might be best), we had best start exercising the old vocal chords. If for whatever reason, we decide that we either can't, won't, don't have the time or don't have the interest . . . then, don't we deserve what we get ?
"Do no harm" . . . "the truth conquers all" . . . "silence implies consent". All pretty stimulating phrases.
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